Omaha daily bee., 1887-10-28
THE PEOPLE :. OF RUSSIA.
Their Habits and Customs-The
Czars Tyranny.
HE DEsPoTlc GOVERNMENT.
The Royal Family-The Censor of the
Press-The Church OF Russia
An Americans Views on
Russian Affairs.

stand Russia, her Imperialism and her
institutions, and especially to appreci-
ate the tyranny here, and to know why
such violent efforts are made to destroy
the car and his despotic government,
the people must first be understood.
The people more than the country make
republic, kingdom or an empire
what it is.
Americans, more than any other race,
oppose violence as means of reform.
The franchise of the people works re-
formation, together with the customs
which bring about changes in Office.
But in a country where there is no such
thing as the ballot, and corruption, un-
fitness and natural circumstances do not
change official make-ups, the people are
driven to other means than political to
work reforms. Here the throne is the
inheritance of single family,
| and officers Of the empire are
never punished for crimes against
the people. A Russian may with inn
punity and in cold blood murder whole
family, If it has no connection with the
throne, enter plea of guilty and be
| sure, under no condition, that his act
| will cost him his life. He will go to
| prison, probably exile in Siberia, for u
few years. But if he is found guilty of
utterances against member of the royal
family or in opposition to the imperial
rule, he is taken from his home, shop,
store or office, and never more is heard
of. His life pays the penalty.
| l had read much in romancing litera-
ture about the mysterious disappear
| onnauo of ,Nanr1o in ,1N
spoke against the high-handed imperi-
BUSINESS OF the czar, but came to ST. Peters,
burg ready to discredit it all. believed
it might have been true one day, but
that it could not be now. In the face of
danger one is less appreciative of it; yet
in the capital of Russia am ready to
confirm the most that have heard of
the dungeons, the guillotine and Siberia.
TIE CONDITION OF AFFAIRS
in this country can be compassed when
it is known that there are no free
schools and none OF a private nature
free from the personal supervision of
matter comes into the territory that is
not scrutinized by the censor of the
press, not a telegram sent in or out
without the inspection, and nothing
will be suffered in any form, by tongue
or ink, which takes exception to any
feature of the government or suggests
any form of government. To violate
the law is to court death. And one
does not have to persist in violating
this law to meet with swift punishment.
Once is sufficient. For mild form of
indiscretion, exile in Siberia or a life
sentence in the dungeons is prescribed.
If the otrense is positive the offender
goes to the island, into the garrison,
and is soon beyond the call Of mortal
subjects. His remains are thrown into
the stink pit.
Forty-two miles up the river Neva
from st. Petersburg is fortress where
enough blood has been shed, in expira-
tion of alleged crimes against the en-
pire, to float Il British man -of-war. 1t
is a long, quaint old structure. maze OF
stone, and the Neva, though O narrow
river, broadens just enough at that
point to give it complete protection
against land approach. 1t should oc.
cupy place in the background OF
Dante's Inferno. On the parapets or
walls overlooking the water are always
a number Of sentinels, who are in
structed to shoot down without cere.
mony any person who attempts to land
Only officers with fresh victims are per.
mitted to approach the fortress, and
many are the stories about innocent
strangers, fishing or rowing, who have
been murdered in their efforts tC
visit the place. Here those
who are condemned to death OF
life sentence are brought, and
it is believed that the Internal tortures
practice within these walls. At differ.
ent periods members of the royal family
like the son of Peter the Great-have
been cast into this dungeon to die, under
suspicion of disloyalty to the Gear. In
natural location it reminds one of Black
wells island, near New York, but the
latter prison is
A PALACE IN COMPARISON.
Not only does the emperor and censor
punish persons who speak or write
against the royal family, but friends o
the family. When Katlioff, the editor
of the Moscow Gazette, died a few weeks
ago, the foreign press commented copi
ously upon the influence he welded il
the rule of Russia. The English pres!
did not overlook the fact that Katkof
had not welded his power with the
Car in relieving Russia of her burdens
Katkoff was the most influential man ii
the empire, and not only were all the
articles in foreign newspapers and mag
azinss on the death destroyed, but il
, a number of instances the publications
| were DlackIlSueu.
The censor of the press, when he wishes
| | 20 simply destroy IA certain article in {
newspaper or magazine, generally rolls
, | "a roller of black ink over it, leaving ;
dense spot, through which not u wort
can be discerned. The instrument i!
like the ink-roller OF a printing press
If the article in magazine covers
= more than a page the pages are simpl!
tol out and cast into the waste basket
? The Office of the censor Of the press ii
a city like st. Petersburg is something
: like that of the city editor for large
l | American newspaper. The corps o
/ assistants open the mails, run through
4 the matter and hand the questionable
. stuff to tho censor, who decide
/ if it should be detained, de
stroyed or passed. This pro
cess makes the delivery eff all mai
a matters except letters very slow. Th
Q newspapers in Russia are OF very littl
Importance on account of the censorship
Every article, even to local paragraph
dicussing Russian affairs or referring
< directly or remotely to the emperor o
: his family, the army, navy or any OF
. fetal, although it may simply say tina
n so-and-so is going to such and sue
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